Sociology XIII – Flashcards
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What does it mean when sociologists say that age is "socially constructed"? a) Age is based on sociobiological concepts. b) Age is related to heredity and genes. c) Age is perceived in a similar manner all over the world. d) Age is based on cultural attitudes that are rooted in a society.
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d
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What three factors account for the long life expectancy of the Abkhasians, the people living in the former Soviet republic of Georgia? a) mostly vegetarian diet; lifelong physical activity; sense of community b) higher than average intellect; clean mountain air; homogeneous population c) strong religious beliefs; higher than average intellect; mostly vegetarian diet d) sense of community; clean mountain air; strong political structure
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a
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Which of the following nations has the lowest percentage of population age 65 or older? a) Afghanistan b) Uganda c) Poland d) Hungary
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b
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What is the current median age of the United States population? a) 26 b) 31 c) 35 d) 45
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c
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All of the following statements regarding the "graying of America" are accurate EXCEPT for which one? a) The American life expectancy in 1910 was about 50. b) About 13 percent of the U.S. population is 65 or older today. c) The median age of Americans has almost doubled since 1950. d) Today, the number of elderly is higher than the number of teenagers.
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c
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Of the following countries, in which one do the citizens have the longest life expectancy? a) the United States b) Japan c) Germany d) France
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b
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Of the following countries, in which one do the citizens have the shortest life expectancy? a) South Korea b) Afghanistan c) South Africa d) Zimbabwe
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d
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Of the following groups of Americans, which one has the lowest median age? a) Asian Americans b) African Americans c) Latinos d) Native Americans
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c
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The life span for humans is recorded as ________, based on the well-documented records of a French woman who died in 1977. a) 109 b) 115 c) 122 d) 128
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c
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What term refers to the maximum length of life that is possible for a species? a) life expectancy b) life span c) life cycle d) life course
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b
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In U.S. society, men with graying hair and wrinkles are seen as mature, while women with the same features are seen as old. This is referred to as ________ age. a) biological b) gender c) gerotranscendent d) societal
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b
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The term "________" refers to prejudice, discrimination, and hostility directed against people because of their age, and was coined by the physician ________. a) gerotranscendence; Lars Tornstam b) gender age; Francis E. Downey c) ageism; Robert Butler d) age cohort; C. Everett Koop
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c
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Prejudice, discrimination, and hostility directed against people because of their age is called ________. a) reverse discrimination b) disengagement c) ageism d) age cohort
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c
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How do theorists view the relationship between industrialization and the elderly in the United States? a) The social value of the elderly increased with industrialization. b) The social value of the elderly decreased with industrialization. c) The elderly were recognized for their knowledge and skills as a result of industrialization. d) The elderly were identified as having reached an honorable distinction as a result of industrialization.
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b
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Which theory, developed by Swedish sociologist Lars Tornstam, describes the transformation of the elderly to feel more at one with the universe and more understanding in their perception of social issues? a) continuity theory b) gerotranscendence c) activity theory d) disengagement theory
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b
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In colonial America, reaching an older age was viewed ________. a) as a significant accomplishment b) as an unusual and repulsive process c) as something to be avoided d) with indifference
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a
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Because the first of the baby boom generation has now turned 60, we are likely to see a shift to more positive images of the elderly. What is the major reason for this? a) They recognize that there is a certain distinction in being elderly. b) Their vast numbers translate into economic clout and political power. c) They tend to be much more productive in the labor market than younger workers. d) They represent a storehouse of occupational knowledge and work skills.
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b
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With respect to contemporary China, which of the following statements best reflects its policy toward the elderly? a) Children are permitted to abandon their parents when they reach age 60. b) Older people are moved into government nursing homes based on strict government policies. c) The elderly begin to collect social security payments when they turn 70. d) Children are obligated by tradition, and in some cases by contract, to care for their aging parents.
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d
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What sociological perspective stresses that age has no inherent meaning and that each culture shapes the way that its citizens perceive the elderly? a) symbolic interactionism b) functionalism c) the conflict perspective d) the feminist perspective
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a
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To qualify as having an age cohort, what factor must exist in a research study? a) The sample must have volunteers of various ages. b) The members of the sample must represent all ages. c) The members of the sample must be born roughly at the same time. d) There subjects must be chosen totally at random, regardless of age.
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c
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Dr. Loomis' introductory sociology class is composed entirely of first-year students who are 18 years old. Together, these 55 students, and all other 18-year- olds, comprise a(n) ________. a) age cohort b) longitudinal sample c) adolescent universe d) young adult population
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a
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How have television advertisements and other forms of cultural media typically portrayed the elderly? a) as wise and knowing b) as overprotective and nurturing c) as accomplished and affluent d) as unimportant and stereotyped
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d
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As the "baby boom" generation reaches retirement age, what can be expected of its effect on the economy? a) Many jobs will open at roughly the same time. b) Fewer jobs will be made available. c) The labor market will become more male-dominated. d) The Gross National Product (GNP) will rise.
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a
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Which theory posits the notion that retirement is a mutually beneficial agreement between two parts of society, the old and the young? a) activity theory b) exchange theory c) disengagement theory d) conflict theory
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c
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What flaw did Jerrome and Manheimer see in disengagement theory? a) It is applicable only to Western cultures and customs. b) It is a myth that society takes care of the elderly when they retire. c) It fails to take into account people from the inner city, rural America, and other poor areas. d) It contains an implicit bias against older people, claiming that they abandon socially productive roles.
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d
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Based on the work of Elaine Cumming and William Henry, when does disengagement begin? a) It is a gradual process that begins in middle age and continues over several decades. b) It begins when a person experiences his or her first age-related illness. c) It starts at retirement and continues until death. d) It occurs as a person approaches the final years of life, usually at about age 75 or 80.
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a
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Ralph, age 45, has decided to stop putting in overtime at work and stop going to Chamber of Commerce meetings in order to spend more time with his family and friends. According to Elaine Cumming and William Henry, what is transpiring in Ralph's life? a) He is experiencing a mid-life crisis. b) He is becoming more conscious of his social roles. c) He is in the early stages of disengagement theory. d) He is losing his motivation to succeed.
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c
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What did the research by anthropologist Dorothy Jerrome show regarding the ways in which the elderly actually retire? a) They abruptly disengage from their productive roles. b) They exchange one set of roles for another set of roles. c) They prefer to be supported by their former employer rather than the government. d) They retire only when under duress or when forced to do so.
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b
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Which sociological perspective is most closely aligned with the disengagement, activity, and continuity theories of aging? a) symbolic interactionism b) the conflict perspective c) functionalism d) the feminist perspective
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c
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________ was the physician who started a movement in 1930 to levy a 2 percent national sales tax to support the elderly. a) Alan Scarsdale b) Jonas Salk c) C. Everett Koop d) Francis Townsend
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d
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Under the Townsend Plan, what was the monthly stipend to be paid to all Americans 65 years of age and older (in 1930 dollars)? a) $125 b) $200 c) $350 d) $500
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b
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What was the means by which the Townsend Plan was to be funded? a) a working man's tax on all earned income b) a national sales tax of 2 percent c) a capital gains tax of 10 percent on all those who earned over $10,000 d) an assessments on employers of $1,000 a year for each employee
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b
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The number of workers required to support one dependent member of society is called the ________. a) disengagement coefficient b) Social Security factor c) dependency ratio d) correlation coefficient
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c
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Who proposed the Social Security plan that was finally adopted by Congress in 1934? a) Franklin D. Roosevelt b) Francis Townsend c) Robert Butler d) Lyndon Johnson
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a
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The dependency ratio was ________ in 1950 and had shrunk to ________ by 2000. a) 22:1; 8:1 b) 16:1; 4:1 c) 14:1; 6:1 d) 48:1; 12:1
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b
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How does a Ponzi scheme work? a) It places the money in reserve as a part of the Federal Reserve System. b) It sets the money aside in a fund that cannot be touched except for Social Security payments. c) It pretends there are funds where there really are none. d) It uses the money to leverage loans from the World Bank.
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c
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What advantage does the author see in passing laws that would require background checks of nursing home workers? a) They would likely reduce the incidents of elderly abuse. b) They would make licensure of nursing homes easier. c) They would allow nursing homes to apply for more grants and reduce costs to families. d) They would improve the efficiency of nursing home operations.
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a
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Which sociological perspective is most closely aligned with the explanation that Social Security benefits came about as the result of a struggle between competing interest groups? a) the conflict perspective b) functionalism c) the feminist perspective d) symbolic interactionism
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a
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Joann just stared working at the Mainline Nursing Home. Based on the range of resignations in nursing home staff each year, what is the likelihood that Joann will be working there a year from now? a) close to 0 percent, because it is virtually certain that all staff members will resign within a year b) about 25 percent, but it is very likely that staff members will leave within a year c) no better than 40 percent, because at least that proportion leave nursing homes each year d) almost 98 percent, because it is almost certain that staff members will still be employed within a year
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c
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Approximately what percentage of each U.S. tax dollar is dedicated to Social Security and Medicare benefits? a) 18 percent b) 25 percent c) 35 percent d) 54 percent
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d
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At any given time, approximately ________ Americans over age 65 are in nursing homes. This accounts for approximately ________ of the nation's elderly. a) 600,000; 2 percent b) 1.5 million; 4 percent c) 4 million; 10 percent d) 6 million; 13 percent
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b
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Which organization has 20,000 members who work toward opposing ageism and supporting the welfare of both the old and the young? a) Social Security Association b) ACLU c) AARP d) Gray Panthers
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d
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What is the macro-level goal of the Gray Panthers? a) to help people develop positive self-concepts b) to increase Social Security payments to all retired Americans c) to establish a national health care plan for the elderly d) to fight attempts to pit people against one another based on age factors
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a
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What is the politically powerful group with 39 million members that monitors federal and state legislation and mobilizes its elderly members to act on issues affecting their welfare? a) Gray Panthers b) American Association of Retired Persons c) National Initiative for the Care of the Elderly d) Alzheimer's Association
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b
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What is the macro-level goal of the Gray Panthers? a) to lower the retirement age to 55 or less b) to increase Social Security payments to all retired Americans c) to establish a national health care plan for the elderly d) to fight attempts to pit people against one another based on age factors
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d
